Brazil's lower house approves federal intervention in Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian House of Representatives voted early Tuesday morning to approve the federal intervention in security sector of Rio de Janeiro state.

The intervention was approved by 340 votes against 72. The Senate is scheduled to vote the decree on Tuesday evening in an extraordinary session.

The decree, which determined the federal intervention over Rio's public security sector, was signed by President Michel Temer last Friday. Federal troops are already in Rio de Janeiro. However, the decree must be ratified by the Congress.